The Irish standard., 1887-08-13
MINNEAPOLIS.
COMING EVENTS
OF an Important Nature in Ecclesiastical
Circles.

Ut an important NaLuT6 III u00looioe0Aoe'A
Circles.
Last week the Bishops Of the Province
of Milwaukee assembled at Lacrosse to
discuss the advisability of creating two
new Sees in the Northwest, one in Da-
kota. and to be located either at Bis
marck or Aberdeen, and the other IN
Minnesota, which will have for its do
cesan city either Mankato, Winona or
Minneapolis, with probability OF the
latter city being chosen. FROM what
has been cleaned we are able to inform
our readers that, in all probability,
the Bishop of the new diocese of Min
nesota will be the ever.zealous pastor OF
the Church of the Immaculate Concep-
tion in this city, Rev. James McGolrlck,
although other names are mentioned
prominent among them being the name
of Father J. B. Cotter, of Winona. 1t
is also certain that Rt Rev. Bishop Ire
land will be raised to the dignity OF
Archbishop of Minnesota before many
weeks have gone by.
.sxErCu OF FATHER MGOLRICk.
Rev, Father James McGolrick. whose ap-
,,ointment as Bishop Of the new diocese of
Minnesota will be hailed with delight by the
Cstholic people Of Minnesota, was born at Bor-
risokane. Ireland. aud was educated for the
priesthood ut All Hailows' College, near Dut-
lin where he distinguished himself by his bril-
,oncy as q student. He was ordained Il priest,
v.,.x ~ 1Qer. opd Ale6 with tho ardent zeal
,f commencing at once in doing Gods Holy
Work. ne departed for the United States and
startea Westward, and arrived at St. Paul in
1857, the year of his ordination. His first
charge was ut the Cathedral, in st. Paul, and
afterwards the now Venerable Bishop Grace
advised the young priest to go to Burnsville,
Dakota county, but Father James, evidently
saw the future Of Minneapolis before
him, and asked that he be given the mission
here. His wish was granted and he came here
the same year aud resided with Father Iissot
for e time, while getting acquainted with the
Catholics Of the West Side, and at thnt time
Minneapolis n1d q much smaller Catholic pop
Nation than it's rival town across the river
which was then known as st. Anthony. In
short time Father McGolrick succeeded IN
gaining the fullest confidence OF the Catholics
of Minneapolis, and the result OF his iaDors
was the erection of the old wooden shed-liKe
church, that stood on the present site ct the
Catholic Association Hall, and which many OF
0ur reader will well remember. In an i1credl-
blvshort time the erection Of the present Church
of the immaculate Conception was commenced
the elitice being completed In 1873. During
the twenty years that the Rev. Father has pre-
sided over the church we have witnessed its
rapid growth, until the building became TOO
small to accommodate the large attendance
each Sunday and it bccnme necessary TO Ill
vide the parish: and the result is that Two
more churches at least have been established
from the branches Of the mother Church CT
the Immaculate Conception. we nave also
seen the erection OF substantial schoo!
buildings, meeting hall for societies, an
excellent orphan asylum, and Wel-ellpped
gymnasium and club rooms for the Crusaders
society; we have witnessed the organization OF
total abstinence societies, charitable and be-
neyoent societies, ladies' societies, and we see
them now enjoying prosperity and the bles-
sings of their beloved pastor. We see each
Sunday morning the sacred edifice filed with
Catholics, as well as many members OF other
denominations, attending divine services.
and we are safe i'll saying that the number OF
Catholics belonging to the parish of the Church
of the Immaculate Conception will approach
total of nearly 5000 souls. This is the work
which has been pc rformed by Rev. Father Nc
,Golrials during the twenty years he has laborea
in our midst, and when he has assumed the
duties of his important Office RS Bishop OF the
new See may God grant that he may enjoy the
blessings OF many years OF health and that ne
nay still witness the rapid growth OF the Catho-
lie Church among us.